32 week of pregnancy photo, ultrasound, fetal weight, video

The onset of 31-32 weeks of pregnancy corresponds to the eighth month of the gestational age of the fetus. Calculation of gestational age in medical terms begins from the first day of the last menstruation.

If we discard the obstetric method of calculation, then the countdown of the pregnancy period begins from the moment the egg is fertilized by the sperm, that is, this is the day after ovulation. This period will be less than the obstetric period by about two weeks. That is, 31-32 obstetric weeks are equal to 29-30 weeks of real pregnancy.

How does the baby look and feel?

What happens to the baby at 32 weeks of pregnancy? The development, size and weight of the fetus are as follows: the baby at the 32nd week of pregnancy of the mother is actively growing, already reaches 42 cm, weighs approximately 1800 grams. The internal organs have basically formed, the immune, nervous and endocrine systems are functioning: the endocrine glands produce enzymes, antibodies are intensively formed to protect the delicate body, hearing and vision are developing.

The baby perfectly hears external sounds, the voices of mom and dad, and can distinguish between light and shadow. Therefore, it is so important already at the 32nd week of pregnancy not to scream or swear, but more often to talk affectionately with the child about how important he is, how they are looking forward to him, and to stroke his belly.

The 32nd week of pregnancy is the period when the embryo turns into a full-fledged little person. The hairs on the head thicken, the skin turns pink and smoothes out, a fat layer forms under it, the legs, arms, and face become plump. The baby begins to slowly turn around, turn his head down, so that during childbirth he can easily come out. The bones are strengthened, but the skull remains soft to facilitate the passage of the baby's head through the birth canal.

What happens to the fetus

Now the main “activity” for your child is growth and weight gain. Some children grow more rapidly than others. This explains such significant differences in the parameters of newborns. Ask your family and friends. Some gave birth to a baby weighing 4 kg, while others only 2.5. The difference in height is also quite large (45-55 cm, or even more).

During a twin pregnancy, the babies are always smaller in size than during a singleton pregnancy at the same term. Typically, the weight of twins at 32 weeks reaches 1.5 kg, and their height is 38-39 cm.

The fetal body begins to prepare in its own way for the upcoming birth. The immune system is activated. The fact is that in the womb the fetus is literally sterile; it does not have any microorganisms. Passing through the mother's birth canal, the child acquires its own microflora. Since not all bacteria around a newborn will be beneficial, the immune system must be at its best.

The fetal endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of various hormones, continues to improve. This is another most important process for the coming life.

The skin of the fetus continues to gradually smooth out, the fluff on it disappears. In general, your baby now looks like a real newborn, only small. The fetus is surrounded by approximately a liter of amniotic fluid, which is renewed every three hours.

Does the baby control his movements under his mother's heart? No, there is no awareness or coordination now. All muscle contractions, pushes into the walls of the uterus, facial expressions, and grasping of the umbilical cord are the result of the most complex activity of the brain.

How should the fruit be positioned?

Already at this stage, many babies are positioned absolutely correctly - in a cephalic presentation. There is also breech presentation (buttocks down). It happens that the fetus is “settled” across the uterus or with some kind of rotation.

Doctors distinguish many types of fetal presentation. Some of them are clear indications for cesarean section.

Now there is still quite a lot of time left before the birth. Do not be afraid of the incorrect position of the fetus, it may change more than once. With a cephalic presentation, a bandage is definitely needed - it will help the baby stay in the correct position. In other cases, you will have to abandon the bandage until the presentation of your fetus becomes cephalic. If this does not happen before birth, the doctor may recommend surgical delivery (cesarean section).

With whom to give birth?

Now you need to think about the presence of your relatives at the birth. Of course, the first candidate in this case is the father of the child. But in difficult times, your mother, sister or close friend may be nearby. Is it good or bad?

For example, if you know for sure that your baby’s father cannot stand the sight of blood, then he definitely cannot go into the delivery room. Otherwise, the doctors will have to help not only you, but also your dad who has collapsed. Such cases are not uncommon. However, now there are many courses on preparing for childbirth. They explain to women and men the intricacies of this process, methods of pain relief, and breathing techniques. If you attend these classes with the child's father, you are taking this issue seriously.

Decide together . Perhaps a loved one should be with you only during the first stage of labor, when regular contractions begin, but the birth canal has not yet opened. This will help you feel psychological comfort. A special massage will help relieve pain during contractions. Discuss all these issues in advance with your loved ones.

Of course, the presence of relatives at childbirth must fit into the regime of the medical institution or be stipulated in a special contract.

Is it possible to give birth at 32 weeks of pregnancy?

The 32nd week of pregnancy is the period of preparation of the baby for birth, the formation of organs and systems is completed, he takes a position convenient for leaving the womb. It is still too early to give birth, but sometimes the baby decides to be born at this time.

Premature birth always occurs suddenly, but at seven months the baby is no longer in danger. Babies born at 32 weeks are cared for in the department for premature babies without any particular difficulties, although in most cases their health is poor, and chronic diseases or physiological pathologies are not uncommon.

Weight gain

What a woman’s body weight gain should be at different periods can be seen in the table.

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If a mother is gaining weight too quickly, she should think about adjusting her diet. You may need to exclude too many carbohydrates and fatty foods from the menu, and do gymnastics.

Ultrasound at 32 weeks of pregnancy

At the 32nd week of pregnancy, the last third planned ultrasound is usually scheduled, at which the doctor receives all the information necessary for the upcoming birth: the general condition of the baby and placenta, the readiness of the mother’s body for the birth process.

The baby in the mother’s womb is already quite large, so it will not be possible to see it completely using an ultrasound machine, but the doctor can examine its organs in detail and notice developmental abnormalities.

It is very important to determine the degree of maturity of the placenta, the condition of the cervix and amniotic fluid through ultrasound. If there are defects in the genital tract or placental insufficiency, the baby may suffer, so in this situation it is impossible to do without surgical treatment.

Also, with the help of an ultrasound, the doctor can find out whether the baby is lying correctly, whether he has already taken a position convenient for birth. If the baby has not yet turned around, the doctor will prescribe special exercises for the mother to stimulate the activity of the fetus.

Recommendations for expectant mothers

To ensure that the baby feels good and that pregnancy does not turn into an unbearable ordeal, the mother should follow simple rules:

1. Don’t be nervous, don’t worry about trifles, don’t be sad, do what you love or prepare for the birth of a baby, arrange a children’s room.
2. Move more, walk outdoors more often, communicate with friends.
3. Do not take antibiotics or other strong pharmaceutical drugs under any circumstances, and try not to catch a cold or flu.
4. Watch your weight, eat healthy and healthy.
5. Sleep longer at night, get tired less, pamper yourself with daytime rest.

Also, at 32 weeks of pregnancy, it’s time to start collecting things and documents for the upcoming trip to the maternity hospital , and decide on transport. During this period, it is important for the expectant mother to mentally prepare herself and her loved ones for the arrival of a new family member.

Pain

Pregnancy is gradually approaching its logical “completion”, the belly is increasing in size, the uterus is growing in size, and the entire body of the expectant mother is undergoing colossal changes. And these changes are very often accompanied by pain characteristic of this period of pregnancy.

For example, pain is common at 32 weeks of pregnancy in the back, lower back, and legs. This is a consequence of a systematic increase in weight, abdominal growth and a shift in the center of gravity. To avoid severe pain in the lower back and legs, there are simple rules, the observance of which allows you to relieve increased stress, which becomes the root cause of pain. So, in order to reduce pain at 32 weeks of pregnancy in the lower back, back, and legs, you must definitely monitor your weight, avoiding excess weight gain. It is advisable to sleep on hard mattresses, watch your posture, and devote time to physical exercise.

Pain in the legs at 32 weeks of pregnancy is also associated with weight gain; you can avoid it by regularly “unloading” your legs and letting them rest. So, you should not spend a long time on your feet, walk or stand for a long time, and crossing your legs while standing is also not recommended. When sitting down, it is advisable to place some kind of support (small chair) under your feet, and when lying down, it is advisable to always place some kind of bolster or pillow under your feet, which will help improve blood circulation.

Sometimes a woman may experience sharp pain at 32 weeks of pregnancy in the chest area. They are associated with the baby’s kicks with his legs, which now fall under the mother’s ribs: by this time the baby has already turned over with his head down, accordingly, his legs rest directly on his mother’s ribs. Also typical for this period are mild abdominal pain associated with “training” uterine contractions – Braxton-Higgs contractions.

It is very likely that by the 32nd week of pregnancy a woman will begin to notice some swelling - in her arms, legs (ankles or feet), and face. The appearance of minor edema can be regarded as normal, and they are associated with fluid retention in the pregnant woman’s body. However, the degree of swelling should be carefully monitored - if the swelling does not go away for more than a day, you should immediately consult a doctor to eliminate the risk of developing a pregnancy complication such as gestosis. To help cope with the problem of edema, a number of rules that a pregnant woman is recommended to follow will help. Thus, during swelling, walking and gentle physical activity (swimming, water aerobics) are recommended: movement increases blood circulation and, accordingly, the movement of fluid in the body. If you have swelling, it is also advisable to drink enough water daily and limit your salt intake. However, you should not completely remove salt from your diet - this may, on the contrary, contribute to the development of even greater edema. To avoid swelling, you should also not stand or sit for a long time, raise your legs as often as possible, and during sleep, place your legs on a hill (to prevent the accumulation of fluid in the lower half of the body).

Sex at 32 weeks pregnant

If a woman wonders whether sex at 32 weeks of pregnancy will harm her beloved baby, the doctor usually answers in the negative. So, sex at 32 weeks of pregnancy is not at all contraindicated, of course, if the pregnancy is progressing as normal and no threats are diagnosed by the doctor. But you shouldn’t actively practice physical intimacy, and you should choose a position for intimacy in order to eliminate the possibility of pressure on the stomach.

Weight

Weight at the 32nd week of pregnancy still continues to increase: the child in the woman’s womb grows, which means the kilograms are added. Weight at 32 weeks of pregnancy should ideally increase by plus 12 kg, and by the end of pregnancy - up to 15-16 kg. If your weight gain is more significant, you should reconsider your diet and, together with your doctor, choose a suitable diet for weight control. First of all, to “contain” the appearance of extra grams, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of carbohydrates and milk, while saturating the diet with foods rich in fiber and foods containing protein.